A/n: Hey guys. Long time no see. Just to be clear. This is proof that I am still writing and working on this. I am working on my stories. This chapter had me at stump because it is becoming more complicated, more detailed, and lengthier thus taking more time to write it. I'm sorry I have not been updating. Finding a job to support myself has been the utmost priority at the moment. I've been unemployed since May and jobs are hard to find. Thankfully, I decided I am going to split the original chapter into two chapters.
I just wanted to let y'all know I am still around. I haven't abandon this.
Thank you for all of your support.
Disclaimer: I do not own TVD.
Chapter 38: Sipping on Fire
Chicago
Past – June 12, 1922
After running for a good while, she slowly came to a stop along the way. Her parched throat ached and demanded attention. Caroline slowly strode over towards the creek, not aware of her surroundings around her. She only focused on her thirst. Walking up to the creek, she began to drink with the coldness of the water cooling her aching throat.
Not long after she finished drinking, she couldn't help the curiosity pricking at her brain.
I wonder...
The wolf peered into the water, seeing her reflection that made her frozen in her tracks. Looking back at her was a golden wolf, the same color of her original hazel eyes also gazing back at her. Her golden fur was complemented with splashes of light brown and a few spots of black. When she blinked, her reflection repeated the same motion. The pointed ears twitched to sides just like the reflection's ears too. It also growled back at when Caroline pretended to do the same.
It was then her pointed ears picked up scraps of sounds across the water, claws against the dirt. Looking up, she was surprised to see bright brown-gold eyes staring back at her. Caroline kept her silence, turning her head to the side in observing the animal.
It was a coyote. Half her size, she could easily kill the creature if she wanted to, but it wasn't in her nature to do that. At least not to an animal who hasn't tried to harm her.
The coyote stood still as if it was waiting on her. Caroline took a step back, keeping her tail down but relaxed, holding her head still high and forward as she observed the animal.
Deciding to test a crazy theory, she concentrated.
Do you want some water? She asked slowly, but politely.
…Water. Thirsty. A young male voice spilled into her mind, reminding her of a young boy close to 12 or 13.
You can have some. She mentally said as she dipped her head in the water, lightly splashing the water towards the male coyote with her nose. It's alright.
Water. The coyote said as he approached closer to the creek bed, lapping his tongue against the water for a drink. The blonde wolf continued to watch with curious eyes, mind boggled at this whole experience. How was this even possible? She never responded to anyone else in this form except for Jean when she shifted into werewolf form. Trying to communicate with her was tense and difficult like trying to find a faint signal on the radio with all the white static.
With the coyote, there wasn't much chaotic noise. The animal voiced simple words to her like a steady drip from a faucet. It was one word at a time, but it was clear.
Thank you…Alpha.
She watched him finishing his drinking. Looking back at her once more with those bright eyes of his, the coyote yipped at her parting ways. She didn't hear anything else from him and saw the little animal scurry away into the deeper depths of the forest. This whole experience left Caroline puzzled.
"Come on, Caroline. I know you're awake." A velvety voice stirred her from her dream. That same voice was also peppering kisses around her neck and coating her with his warm breath.
Her eyes remained close for a moment, not wanting to break the façade of her sleeping. She was still very much awake from his lips doing their work, and they felt amazing against her skin. She missed this. She missed his touch. She didn't want it to stop.
Caroline hated to say it, but after all that has happened, she was attached to Klaus Mikaelson. Whatever this was between them – whether it was a blood bond or something else – she didn't want this to stop at all. Klaus had gotten under her skin, and it was too late to go back from that now.
"Stop the sleeping charade, love. I know you're awake." He repeated again with that delectable accent of his. She could now feel his breath right next to her ear now. "I can hear your heartbeat. It's going faster every time I kiss you, and it's going so fast like a hummingbird."
The last word in his speech made her eyes shot open. Memories from her past flooded through her brain, and she finally saw Klaus for the first time that morning. Everything about this man had always set her insides on fire. The lust she had been trying to push back overcame her, and it was all instincts guiding her actions. The wolf inside of her craved Klaus like a vampire wanted blood. The wolf instinct and hunger ruled over Caroline, and she welcomed all of it with an open embrace. She was hungry, and she wasn't afraid to take what she wanted.
Previously laying on her stomach before, she managed to grab the folds of Klaus' shirt and pull him into her bed. An instinctive lustful snarl escaped from her mouth before she wrapped her legs around his hips and pushing him onto his back.
With Caroline on top on him with his back on the mattress, Klaus couldn't help but stare above him. Her mess of blonde curls framed her face as she looked at him with those lustful golden eyes. He could see her canine fangs glistening with the hybrid venom as her face came closer to his, hovering over him just inches away. She looked glorious in his eyes. A dark yet bright beauty. How is that possible?
"You wanted me awake," Caroline stated with a smirk, still hovering over him with her hair becoming a blonde curtain around his face. "There you go."
But now, it was Klaus' turn to let his own beast come out to play. Caroline observed Klaus' eyes shifting from those stormy blues to a simmering red, and they always stunned her every time. It was so different from Klaus' hybrid eyes. It was ironic that the roles were switched now with Caroline as the hybrid and Klaus as the vampire.
"And here I go wanting you as the magnificent creature you are." Klaus said before bringing her face towards his into a kiss. The longing and lust for each other was mutual, and they had no problem with sharing that between them.
Everything about what she felt for Klaus was a torrent. There were too many things to describe when it came to how Klaus made her feel. All of the emotions and everything involved was fluid like water. Always changing yet remaining the same. At the core of everything, the most important thing hasn't changed. Both parties felt something for the other, and they were not willing to let the other one go.
Caroline knew this wasn't love, but she had to confess. She cared.
Taking the initiative, she inserted her tongue into his mouth to get more of his taste. Klaus' tongue didn't let Caroline do all the work. His tongue danced with hers and tasted the inside of her mouth too, relishing in her sweet taste. She always tasted sweet. Caroline would always have that advantage over him. No matter how many times he tasted her, he yearned more of her every time.
Parting from the kiss, the blonde smiled. "Hopefully I won't let that compliment inflate my ego too much," she teased.
"Oh, trust me, sweetheart. It's not your ego that you should be worried about."
Before she could respond, Klaus turned the tables on her, using his vampire strength to pin her down this time on the mattress. Both of her wrists were locked thanks to Klaus' hands, but the grip wasn't too tight. He wanted to give her a choice in case she wanted out. However, that was not one of Caroline's objectives at the moment.
Being under his naked chest unlocked a primal instinct within her, leaving her with little time to ponder where the source came from. Her eyes swirled with golden lust and obsidian hunger. The torrent of all of these heightened emotions clouded her senses like a drug. Dammit, all she wanted was him. Right now, all she could focus on was Klaus.
Caroline felt his rough and calloused hands briefly across her skin as he threaded his fingers to merge with hers. While some females she remembered preferred men to have smoother hands, Caroline was on the opposite end. She was attracted to experience, and damn it, Klaus had plenty of experience to share.
Her baby blue, silk nightgown fitted like a glove when Klaus first bought it for her. It was effortless. Klaus had remembered how his eyes didn't lose sight of her as she walked away from him. The silk nightgown flowed almost to the floor, hugging all of Caroline's curves just the way he imagined. There were moments where he would find himself in content silence from just watching Caroline just being Caroline.
But seeing her below him, the nightgown rumpled and driven up towards her hips to make room for her legs, it was undoing him. Her legs were free to allow him room within her space. He intended to take pleasure in having her permission with this intimacy. And, no other man would be able to come even close to where he was. Caroline was his, and he would kill anyone before he'd let anyone else touch her.
"You are so beautiful, Caroline." Klaus whispered, kissing from the end of her mouth down below to her neck. Next, he trailed down to the valley of her breasts with only the silk material providing a thin barrier to cover the soft mounds of flesh. "Blue is definitely my favorite color on you."
His mouth against her skin was deliberately slow and hot; Klaus' work definitely worked hard to withdraw a long moan of pleasure from her. Damn, he was good. This was torture, but Caroline loved it.
"That first time I saw you in New Orleans," he continued, kissing more around the open skin, "it was back in 1910. I watched you dance with my brother, dancing naturally like you didn't have a care in the world. You wore a red dress that night…"
Caroline felt his hands leaving hers and heading towards her shoulders, gripping the thin straps of her nightgown. Again, his deliberate and slow movements slowly inched her lust and desire for him higher as she arched her body in reaction to his touch.
She also felt him smirking and chuckling against her skin. "Despite how much I detested you that night, you also intrigued me. Standing up against me, not giving in because of your loyalty to them, you wouldn't be able to imagine how much of an effect you already began to have on me. I hated you yet I was already beginning to want you for myself. To possess you…"
Hearing him say this wasn't that surprising for her to hear. She knew that he had always been attracted to her; he regarded her as someone beautiful to look at but nothing before he would throw her away. But no matter in the present or past, that wasn't going to happen any time soon. But hearing his dark tone and speaking like that, she couldn't help the lust for him building to the point where she could feel her belly tightening in anticipation. The bottom half of her body got hotter with Klaus being on top of her like a warm furnace.
"When I saw the witch in the blue dress earlier, I couldn't help but think that you should've worn that dress. Red is a nice color on you, but blue suits you way more." Klaus had finally brought the straps down of her gown away from her shoulders, exposing her creamy breasts only for him to see. God, they were perfect. "It brings out the blue color from your hazel eyes more. I wanted those eyes for myself."
To push Caroline's limits further, Klaus purposely blew across her skin, specifically fixed on Caroline's already hardened nipples. Her body reacted sharply, making her gasp with her mouth wide open.
"Klaus…" His name escaped from her.
"I want you, Caroline." Klaus said simply, slowly massaging her right open breast. "Does that please you, hearing that?"
Caroline let out a moan. "Yes…"
The Original savored every second of watching Caroline in this certain state. It means that not many people have gotten to where he was now. He was slowly getting under Caroline's skin just like she was with him. He was closer to having this amazing creature of a woman by his side. He wanted her by his side, especially through the upcoming years.
While massaging her breast still, Klaus kissed Caroline once more, swirling his tongue around hers before withdrawing. He wasn't going to leave without having Caroline being fully satisfied. He could hear Caroline emit almost a pout when he withdrew so he teased her by biting her bottom lip briefly, enjoying the sight of her craving him.
"You want more, Caroline?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yes, dammit," she growled out this time, biting back a moan.
Hearing that, Klaus didn't hold back any further. He switched from massaging the right breast to the left one, but he didn't leave the right one unchecked. He brought his mouth over to the breast, kissing around the open skin until he was taking the soft mound of flesh into his mouth. He swirled and flicked his tongue over the hard nipple and continued to suck. And boy, he was so enjoying seeing Caroline reacting to his touch.
"Oh, my God." Caroline breathed out, threading her hands through his curls. As he worked his mouth around her breasts, she could feel her body reacting on its own to him. "Don't stop."
Smiling, he continued to suck and taste her, relishing the feel of her smooth skin.
Caroline was reeling. Her breasts were one of the most sensitive parts of her body. And him touching her, using his tongue, his hands caressing her skin perfectly…he was pushing her to the edge. She felt her core below getting dangerously warm and wet; she wasn't the only one that was aware.
Klaus could smell it from miles away.
"You're aroused." Klaus commented, releasing his mouth from her breast with a 'pop'. "Your scent is rank with it."
Caroline's body shuddered, enjoying the brief respite from Klaus' actions. "Most obvious statement of the century."
She was hornier now than a wolf in heat. Klaus always had this effect on her, and it brought the animal side out of her. She couldn't hold it back even if she tried. Caroline was so used to the wolf side of her now that it became natural for her. It was addicting and freeing.
A light sheet of sweat began to already manifest across her flushed form. Klaus observed the hickeys and teeth marks forming in places on her skin, and he was already beginning to have more ideas on what he wanted to do for her. He knew that Caroline was comfortable with this because they crossed further into the physical territory when he invited her to Gloria's bar the first time. When she insisted on getting more privacy with him, things went further between them. He never regretted it, even though they haven't crossed that line yet.
"Well, if that's what you're saying, I will take it upon myself to believe you once I've seen the physical evidence." The Original teased with that damned wicked smirk.
Caroline's eyes widened. She knew where he was going.
Before she could say anything, Klaus was heading down below-
"OH, BIG BROTHER!" Kol shouted as he burst through the door, knocking it wide open and leaving the couple in bed exposed. "Ah, I see you're having a great time without me. It's a shame that Caroline didn't invite me to the fun."
And at that moment, a nuclear bomb was released in the form of a pissed off hybrid and an Original vampire. Kol was going to be obliterated.
"SERIOUSLY?!" Caroline's inner bitch came to the surface, making her voice sound guttural. Although decency was thrown out of the window, she still mortified to have Kol seeing her naked like she was now. Hadn't that one time of him trying to peep on her and Charlene was enough? Pushing Klaus off of her, she wrapped the sheet around her body, and stormed over to Kol. "DON'T YOU KNOW THE MAIN FUNCTION OF A DOOR?!"
Klaus' reaction wasn't better by any means. He was just as furious as Caroline. "His death can definitely be arranged if you so desire it," he said in a tone that would make an ordinary man run for the hills.
She rolled her eyes at him, scoffing as she tried to find her robe to wear instead of this damn sheet. "Klaus, as tempting as it sounds in how I would love to join you in rearranging in Kol's face, I don't want to waste my time. I don't need to be standing here in a dressed in nothing but a sheet in front of your brother."
But of course, Kol was too cheeky to let that deter him from ruining the moment.
"There's no need for the sheet, darling. It's not like I haven't seen what a naked woman looks like. I've been with so many I lost count."
By now, Klaus already snapped. Hearing the innuendo from Kol fed into his jealousy way too easily. Klaus was already out of the bed too and was glaring daggers at his little brother. His mind had already came up with about a thousand plots on how to make Kol dearly pay for interrupting his rare time with Caroline. Before anyone could blink, he sped over to his brother and slammed him into the wall, raising his brother higher inch by inch by holding his neck.
"Well, by now I can definitely remind you once again how death would be like for you. You certainly lost count with how many times I've delivered that to you."
Kol kept up his cheeky disposition despite swallowing a bit. "Killing me over you a spicy moment with your little wolf?"
"You ruining it? Let me think, absolutely." Klaus answered simply as he tightened his throat.
"STOP! Both of you stop before I decide to really get nasty and bite your heads off. You may not die from werewolf venom, but you're going to wish you did because you're pissing me off. God, I'm surrounded by jackasses." Caroline yelled, not giving them room to argue with her. "Klaus, put him down."
"And what will you do to make me?" he challenged her.
She held her ground. "You know what I would do, and for you, that would be worse than starving from blood practically."
Now, that would definitely make Klaus give in. Knowing Klaus, he had an addiction towards her that would be stupid to deny. To be denied from touching her, it would be worse than starvation. And, she knew that that was an advantage card for her. However, Caroline didn't want to make a habit of taking him for granted. After all she went through, a fragile trust was forming in between them. No matter how hard she hated to admit it, she didn't want to lose it. That's why she rarely decided to let his attraction to her as a means to gain leverage.
"Wow, she's really got you whipped, doesn't she?" Kol grunted out with a shitty grin.
Caroline had to stomp the urge to slap her forehead watching that. Damn, did Kol have a death wish or something?
It only made Klaus worse. Holding him still by the neck, he managed to land a left hook across Kol's face. "You were saying?"
"Klaus, that's enough." Her tone was softer this time. She had enough of the blood and the fighting. Was it so hard to have one simple morning these days? "I know he's being a dick, but he's still your brother. Please, Klaus. Show him the mercy that I would show you."
'Don't do this to your brother,' Caroline pleaded silently. She hoped that he would listen to her. Although it wasn't talked about a lot, she still felt the presence of the blood bond between her and Klaus. She felt the burning jealousy of anyone making those kinds of remarks towards her, and the possessiveness inside of him bleeding through as well. She had come to understand somewhat that even though he cared for her, it didn't change the monster that he was. It doesn't change his condition towards other people. He would kill anyone who would dare to claim her as their own.
Caroline was his.
And it was thanks to her that Kol was given another day.
He slowly released his grip from Kol's throat, leaving him gasping for air, spitting out blood on the way down. Klaus turned his face to Caroline, those gray blues looking directly into her hazel ones.
"Only for you, Caroline."
Caroline let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you."
On his end, Klaus could hear and feel the gratitude radiating from Caroline from the blood bond as well. Honestly, it was refreshing. He had always favored loyalty, even if he forced it, which still left a bittersweet taste in his mouth. Seeing Caroline choosing on her own to…he didn't know what to call it. A part of him was too afraid to chance it. Klaus was happy with how Caroline treated him, and he made sure he would show her the same respect. Although tricky at times, Klaus made an effort for her sake.
But now, it was Kol's turn to be angry, but he kept it in check. If there was one thing he detested (and feared) more than anything, it was having a dagger in his heart. And the threats his brother constantly dished out was pushing him bit by bit over the edge. If it weren't for Caroline being in the room right now, he would have taken his chances in fighting with his brother. (Even though it was his idea to have fun in jest with his brother.)
"If I am still going to have my life intact," he spat out the blood from his mouth. "I would like to speak about what I actually came for even though I was only playing a harmless joke."
Biting back his tongue was never Klaus' talent. He was still an asshole. "Only harmless thanks to Caroline saving your life."
"I didn't and I don't ever need Caroline's saving from you, dear brother." Kol hissed at Klaus with a bite still in his voice as he got back up to his feet again. "I can handle you just fine. But anyway, I came to inform you that Stefan asked for you on the phone. All of the arrangements have been made."
Hearing that announcement seemed to have pleased Klaus, and probably putting him into a better mood seeing the smirk from his face. "Well, at least this would make up somewhat for this unfortunate altercation."
Caroline arched an eyebrow in confusion, but she kept her silence. What in the hell was he talking about? Still wrapped up in the white sheet, she couldn't help but stand there awkwardly.
She still watched the exchange between the brothers in concern and backed away from at with unease as Kol tightened his fists. Parts of his mouth peeled back, threatening to show those dangerous white teeth of his. She had to do something and fast.
"Klaus," she called out. "Why don't you go ahead grab us some blood? I'm really parched."
"You sure, love?" he asked, still eyeing his brother with the same dagger eyes that were used everywhere in his family.
"Yes," she almost exasperated. "Please, go. I just want to stay inside today and not go hunt."
It was forever before Klaus relented. "Fine, but I'm picking the victim this time."
"Go already."
Rolling his eyes, Klaus made his steps towards the door, but not before stopping towards Kol on his way out. Klaus would always have the last word. Always. "We will finish this later," he whispered.
"Gladly," Kol hissed with his anger brimming to the surface.
With that, Klaus smirked in victory before he finally left, leaving Caroline and Kol as the only ones in her room. When the door closed, the younger brother's emotions were finally unleashed. In a fashion that Caroline could only see Klaus act in, Kol lashed out. He took one of the vases that was near one of the open double-French doors and threw it across the room. Watching the vase break into pieces, Caroline only slightly flinched from the noise and outburst. She also watched as Kol heaved in heavy breaths, trying to tear anything that could be deemed of value to Klaus. His brown eyes changed red, taking almost a dark maroon color due to the pigment in his eyes. Those dark eyes settled on Caroline, wondering how Klaus would react to Caroline's blood all over the room.
But he wouldn't do it. He just stood still.
"You're lucky that my brother values you so much," he spoke bitterly.
But Caroline wasn't the only thing that Klaus valued so much. If only Kol could see that. Caroline walked carefully towards him as if he were a dangerous animal.
"He values you too, Kol. You know that." Caroline voiced the truth. "He always valued his family above all, remember?"
"Ha. You really think you know my brother?" Kol mockingly laughed.
She didn't want to think that she knew everything. There were parts of Klaus that she had yet to understand. It would foolish to think too far ahead. "I'd like to think I know him somewhat."
"Then you're nothing, but a pretty fool, darling." He stepped closer towards her; slow and premeditated strides echoing along the wooden floor. He could smell the small amount of fear from the hybrid, but he credited her for efforts in keeping a brave face. Strong as a hybrid or not, Kol could easily kill her if he tried. He would love to destroy her if it meant for Klaus to feel pain, but that fear of being in the dark due to the dagger stopped that. "He's always parading around about chanting "Family above all, always and forever" like a mantra. A manta, might I add, that becomes a broken record right after 900 years. What he fails to say is that we are only his family if we do things for his benefit."
That wasn't a surprise. It was a fact that Caroline knew.
"I know."
"Do you?" he asked skeptically. Kol was closer towards Caroline now; he was only just a few feet away. "Throughout your knowledge about my family, do you ever wonder why Elijah wasn't around anymore? Do you ever question why our father is always chasing us to the ends of the earth? Do you know how Rebekah stays with him despite destroying every chance of happiness she gets? Do you know why I am the black sheep in my own family? Do you know the answer why our family is cursed?"
It wouldn't be wise to answer. Caroline didn't want her head on a spike thanks to Kol's anger so she shook her head. "No, how about you tell me."
"With pleasure," he said with a wicked smirk, "on one condition, though. If you think that throwing away you precious morality towards humans is a price worth it."
"What?" she asked in annoyed fashion.
"You'll join me in a bloodbath."
Caroline rolled her eyes. Like that was going to happen. "No, Kol. I'm not doing that. Not in bright daylight."
"Oh, come on. Don't let your good morals prevent you from having some fun."
It was now Caroline's turn to get aggravated. Her eyes began to change to gold and black, but her fangs didn't poke out. "Keep hounding me, and the only one who is going be in a bloodbath is you."
Kol laughed. "Now that's more like it. Let your inner monster come out."
"Kol, the last thing I need you to be is my evil cheerleader. Now, will you just talk to me instead of being completely psychotic?" she pleaded.
It was then the darker side of Kol returned with a nasty bite. "What makes you think I'll talk so easily, little wolf?"
Caroline slightly bristled under the new pet name, but she held back. "Because unlike your family, you have trust in me. You've trusted me since I've save your life from Klaus back in New Orleans years ago. You trust me a lot more than you admit."
She was speaking the truth, and both of them knew it. However, Kol wasn't so ready to admit that.
"If you want more truth about my trust, I'll give you something." Caroline added at the last minute, trying to get Kol's reaction.
"What are you willing to offer, darling? I'm pretty sure whatever you give me, I can get it myself."
She shook her head. "Nope, not with this."
Caroline dug into the drawer of the antique nightstand that stood next to the bed. She pulled out a knife that she had in her own possession. Drawing the knife across her wrist, the smell of copper filled the air as it began to drip away from her. She also took a champagne flute that Klaus had brought earlier and guided the blood to drip into the flute, filling it with the red liquid. When she was finally done, the hybrid brought the champagne flute filled with blood to Kol.
"I know Klaus is only still a vampire right now with his werewolf side being locked. Werewolf venom is still pretty bad, and trust me. I know from experience on that one." Caroline explained. "But anyway, I know my blood is rare. I want to offer you this…antidote just in case something happens. It will heal you."
As a measure of her good will, she willingly gave the flute to Kol. She wasn't in a hurry for Kol's answer, but she knew that sometimes honesty is the best policy. Honesty was so foreign to the Mikaelsons that she wasn't surprised about Kol's silence.
"Now, tell me what's going on. We have all day."